The Mon resistance forces has urged the entire Mon community to unite behind the establishment of the Hanthawaddy new Mon State within a future federal union, as various groups intensify efforts to ultimately defeat the rapidly declining Junta.
On the 8th waning moon day of the Kason month in 1119 of the Myanmar traditional calendar, Alaungpaya (also known as U Aung Zay Ya), the Myanmar (Bamar) king of the Konbaung dynasty, conquered Hanthawaddy, the royal capital of the Mon dynasty, marking 267 years since that event.
During that time, thousands of Mon people, including monks and children, were massacred according to Mon reports. Priceless Mon literature and manuscripts were destroyed, and Mon towns and villages were razed to the ground by invading troops committing acts of arson.
The atrocities perpetrated by U Aung Zay Ya and his subordinates against the Mon people over 260 years ago bear striking resemblance to the oppressive actions of the current coup Junta against the people of Myanmar.
The Mon State Federal Council (MSFC) highlighted that the recent burning of Dhammatha Mon village by Junta soldiers, as compelling evidence of the ongoing oppression endured by the Mon people, spanning from the era of the Burmese Emperors to the present-day dictators.
Every year on the anniversary of the destruction of Hanthawaddy, Mon people engage in good deeds, donations and dedications to honor their deceased ancestors, marking it as a day of remembrance and a call for the establishment of a new Mon State with the right to self-determination.
Nai Mon Sai, chairman of the Administrative Committee of MSFC, stated to Than Lwin Times that it is imperative for all Mon people to actively engage in the efforts towards establishing a new Mon State within the forthcoming federal union.
"We need to make sure the Mon State, which our ancestors founded, is part of the future federal union. Every Mon person should join this effort. The ongoing revolution promises our freedom, so we must support it in all possible ways. Without self-determination, there will always be a risk of Mon culture diminishing. That's why we urge everyone to work towards establishing a new Mon State”, he said.
Nai Mon Sai highlighted that since the downfall of Hanthawaddy, the Mon people endured over 260 years of subjugation under the oppressive rules of Bamar Kings and British colonial administration.
Simultaneously Mon communities residing in the Ayeyarwady and Bago regions underwent Burmanisation, leading to the gradual erosion of Mon literature and cultural traits.
Nai Naga, spokesperson for the Mon State Revolution Force (MSRF), also called upon Mon youths to unify and resist the military regime, emphasizing the impossibility of negotiating with the Junta to reclaim lost Mon rights and secure their own destiny.
"We Mon people cannot expect the Junta to engage in discussions about reclaiming our lost rights, freedom, and self-determination, following humane principles. Negotiating with the coup regime on such terms is impossible, so it is crucial that we unite and fight against the Junta together. That's why we urge all young people to join the resistance forces and contribute”, he elaborated.
The people of Myanmar, who endured generations under dictatorship, briefly savored the freedoms of a five-year civilian rule, only to be plunged back into darkness by the coup led by Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing.
As various ethnic groups, including the majority Bamar stood against the coup, the Junta responded with brutal crackdowns, actions that could not be concealed and became widely documented evidence known to the global community.
Nai Naga also appealed to all Mon people to unite and expedite the downfall of the already weakened Junta, aiming for the swift realisation of a glorious and honourable Mon State.
